SOUTH THOMASTON — After more than 80 years, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend Ellyn-Jean Marckoon's soul left her worn out body on June 9, 2016, from complications due to COPD and Celiac disease. Born in Veazie on Aug. 23, 1935, she was the first child and only daughter of Earle Douglas Bailey and Marian (Harding) Bailey.

Her parents eventually settled in Bucksport, where Ellyn graduated as salutatorian from Bucksport High School in 1953. She would become the first in her family to graduate from college, after earning an education degree from Gorham State Teacher's College in 1957.

During her high school years, Ellyn met Peter Marckoon while she worked in the Harborside area of Brooksville. They married on March 17, 1956, while Peter was home on leave from the U.S. Army. After he was discharged, they lived briefly in New Paltz, N.Y., where their first child, Stuart, was born. They moved back to Maine, settling for many years in Winthrop and had their second child, Susan.

Ellyn began her career as a teacher, and for many years taught third grade in Winthrop. The family moved from Winthrop to Rockland in 1970 and Ellyn became a full-time substitute teacher, working mainly for SAD 28 in the Camden and Rockport areas, as well as for SAD 5 in Rockland, Owls Head and South Thomaston.

In the late 1970s, after their two children had left home for college, Ellyn and Peter moved to their farmhouse in South Thomaston, where they became very active in Peoples United Methodist Church. For years they grew raspberries in the garden, selling them to locals and summer residents all around the region. Ellyn was also a very active member of Delta Kappa Gamma International Teaching Society. She enjoyed quilt making, rock hunting, the Red Sox and keeping up on the local goings on. She was most proud of her family, though, and leaves a growing number behind.

Ellyn is survived by her husband of 60 years, Peter; her daughter, Susan Jones and her husband, Lowell, of Owls Head, and their three children, Jessica and her companion, Aaron Tibbetts, of Rockport, Amy and her husband, Mike Griswold, and their two children, Lydia and Braydon, of Winthrop, and Abigail and her husband, James Skrabak, of Chicago, Ill.; her son, Stuart and his wife, Bonnie (Saucier) Marckoon, of Lamoine, and their daughters, Sarah of South Portland and her companion, Corey Huot, and Rebecca and her significant other, Nathaniel Hines, of Rutland, Vt. She is also survived by her brothers, James Bailey and his wife, Sharon (Hartman), of Oregon, and Robert Bailey and his wife, Debbie (Merrifield), of Brewer.

Most of the family was able to visit with Ellyn in her final days, and she greatly appreciated the company.

A memorial will be held Saturday, June 18, at 2 p.m. at Peoples United Methodist Church, 13 Chapel St. in South Thomaston. The Rev. Michelle Wiley will officiate. A time of fellowship with refreshments will follow in the church parish hall. A private interment for family will be at the Village Cemetery in South Thomaston.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Peoples United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 83, South Thomaston, ME 04858.

Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home.